Statute of limitations

statute of limitations, legislative act restricting the time within which legal proceedings may be brought, usually to a fixed period after the occurrence of the events that gave rise to the cause of action. Such statutes are enacted to protect persons against claims made after disputes have become stale, evidence has been lost, memories have faded, or witnesses have disappeared.

Statutes of limitations appeared early in Roman law and form the basis of the limitations provided in the codes of civil-law countries. In England limitations on actions to recover landed property were not instituted until the 16th century and those on personal actions ... (100 of 573 words)